Life — April 13, 1916 — page 22: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

APRIL 13, 1916 ‘* While there is Life there's Hope"’ 11% Published by LIFE PUBLISHING COMPANY J. A. Mrrcurtt, Pres’t. A. Miturr, Sec’y and Treas. 17 West Thirty-first Street, New York English Offices, Rolls House, Breams Bldgs., London, E. C. HERE has _ been plenty of good war news, especially from Mexico, but up to the time of this writing it has been too subject to variation and correction. We had it that Villa had been surprised by Carranzists and wounded in the knee and thigh, and was fleeing from our redoubtable Colonel Dodd in a wagon, and would be caught at once or sooner. But that seems to have been an April Ist story, though the belief still obtains that Colonel Dodd chased Villa very hard and will get him presently, un- less, to be sure, Villa gets Colonel Dodd. There is but one Villa, and he is an agile character, and has a large, wild country to disport in, and it may be some time yet before the Lord's will about him is revealed, in spite of the celerities of our good cavalrymen. To keep an eye on the border, and accept all news-reports with reservations, is all one can do un- til an authentic coroner’s deposition gives us news that we can trust. The European war news is not much more convincing than that from Mex- ico. The back-and-forth at Verdun goes on, but no competent authority seems to be taking much pains to in- form the important American public how it is going. We get plenty of stories with a vast background of noise, dust, fire and poisoned vapors, and are left with the impression that the Ger- mans are getting something, but not much, and are getting it slowly and paying very hi for it. The little outburst of ce talk is lulled for the moment. The chance of our get- ting into the war seems rather better than usual. The Sussex was sunk in a manner that seemed incompatible with a nice regard for our sensibilities and the position our government has taken anent such matters, and though the sinking was done so unobtrusively that it is hard to prove that Germans did it, the circumstantial evidence is strong and is backed by enough direct evidence to make it look as though our government would have to give up its long effort to come to a satisfactory understanding with Germany about submarine warfare, and relieve Count Bernstorff of his duties here. The severance of diplomatic relations would not immediately bring on a state of war with Germany, but it would leave us in an attitude of watchful waiting, and in times like these, as we have learned, that attitude is not favorable to continuance of peace. F course, in these diplomatic mat- ters nothing is certain until it has happened, but at least we are near enough to a break with Germany to wish very seriously for such a shuffle in the Cabinet as would give to the navy a Secretary who would inspire somewhat more confidence, both in the service and the public, than Mr. Daniels does. If we get into a state of war, the Il we have that is even measurably ready for work. Mr, avy is Daniels has done better by it this last year than he did in the two years preceding, but he is very unacceptable in the place he holds, and the idea of his continuing indefinitely in that place is nothing less than appalling to a great many sober-minded voters, There are other places in the Cabinet that he might hold without causing so much anxiety, and there are other men in the Cabinet who could occupy his present place with great advantage to public peace of mind. If it is down on the slate that Mr. Danicls must be Secre- tary of the Navy as long as Mr. Wil- son continues to be President, it is a fact that will quicken the interest of many voters in the coming Republican nominations, NTEREST in the Republican nom- inations is quickening a little, any- how. The leading candidates at this writing are Hughes and Roosevelt, with the odds beginning to favor the Colonel. As a rule, people who don’t like Mr. Wilson don't like Judge Hughes. The Judge appeals to the moral sentiments of our estimable elec- torate, and his Republican opponents swear softly and declare that he is nothing but a Wilson with whiskers. Presumably he is not one of those Re- publicans who have been scandalized by Mr. Wilson’s delinquencies. Presum- ably he has very little fault to find with Mr. Wilson's policies relating to the war in Europe. If the reins of govern- ment should swap next March from Mr. Wilson’s hands to Mr. Hughes’ nobody would expect to see the team rear up. It would be very uncompli- mentary and improper to say that to pick Hughes to beat Wilson would be a fighting of the Devil with fire, but that’s the idea. It would be homeo- pathic treatment. But the violent anti- Wilson people don’t want homeopathic politics. They want a purge. They want calomel and quinine, and brandy if the patient seems to need it. That makes the World insist that they must have Roosevelt. When it is not ex- hibiting Mr. Daniels as the greatest comicbooks.com